While looking on eBay the other day I saw a listing for a Union Pacific Hancock 3 chime whistle. In the description in said it was off a Big Boy. The buy it now was a little high I thought, but my business partner and I bid on it anyways. The bids ran just under 3000.00 and the reserve still had not been met. The auction ended and the seller delisted it as buy it now only. I contacted him last night to ask if he had any proof it was off a Big boy trying to justify his price. If he had some proof I was going to make him a decent offer.

Here is the link
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hancock-Three-S ... 416d6e3c32

Here is my question:
What provenance do you have that it is off a Union Pacific locomotive? There were thousands of Hancock three chimes built and used in many applications. This one does not look like it has the modifications made to it for use in locomotive service. Are there any markings for the UP on the whistle?

Here is both his responses in order:
Dear beacon_joe,

YES and I had a UP museum look at prints of the BIg BOuy whistle and the only difference is the pull lever which the seller told me he was going to CHANGE so to ease shipping. It came with this handle know. Why do railfans think they are railroad wisdom??? The UP used numbers on them and this one has them. Feel any more stupid? The UP used a whistle with the double lug, alot on the BIG BOY AND CHALLENGER and this whistle has all those markings. I had this UP RAILROAD authenticate this whistle. It is the real McCoy Sir. YOu do not have this whistle and cannot see there details that Are oN the print also. Those details are on this whistle. The seller did not want to advertise a big boy whistle 25 years ago when I bought it. The museum did want the whistle to put on a up engine but we were both stuburn. Before you open your mouth and prove stupidity and not YOU ARE SMART you need to see the whistle instead of being a fool on something you have not seen. The seller has been in touch with me and said he could not verify the engine but it came off UP BIG STEAM. Do you need to talk to him, to enforce your domain as a smart ass railfan. DO NOT TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, IT IS WRONG AND YOU JUST MAKE A FOOL OF YOUR SELF. IT IS GENUINE UP. COME ON OVER AND LOOK AT IT SMARTASS. DO NOT TELL ME HOW MANY HANCOCKS THERE WERE, WHY WOULD THAT MAKE ANY DIFERENCE ON IT'S COMING OFF A UP ENGINE. PEOPLE GOT FIRED DOING WHAT HE DID TO GET IT. I WILL TELL YOU NO MORE BECAUSE YOU CAN READ MY MIND. MY PROVENANCE IS A DEGREE HIGHER THAN YOURS THAT YOU WNAT TO SHOW EVERYONE. OH YEAH, SMART ASS, THE UP FOREMAN TOLD ME WHEN THE ENGINES HIT THE BACK SHOP NEW PARTS THAT WERE NON MARKED GOT ON THESE ENGINES, SO YOUR WISDOM IS AGAIN SCREWED. WHO THE HELL CARES WHAT YOU KNOW AND THINK. ARE YOU THE WHISTLE GOD.

- coffeeman1401
Dear beacon_joe,

I like your fortitude. To spare us any conflics, I banned you from making offers which will not let you buy this at any price and play with me or my buyers. Fair enough!!!!! Make a devine comment on that if you please!!! Ask me no questions, I have no time for railfans, we in the steam business say got a question find a fan he will make up an answer that sounds good to him. I will not waste my time on your need to be important railfan. With that in mind and I have proof, what do you have? Since you can't buy go somewhere else.

- coffeeman1401


Needless to say I was blown away, any thoughts?

Same seller has had equally unpleasant rants directed at a bidder for a "rare" coin. Those who might enjoy reading another stunningly hostile, semi-literate, juvenile tirade can see it at the following link:

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=853197

I was under the impression that UP used Manning Maxwell and Moore whistles on BB, Challengers and 800s

My thoughts are you got digitally dressed down for asking an extremely valid question in regard to provenance. It's neat when people go ballistic and come out with their illiterate guns blazing.

You may not be buying a whistle, but the story is free.

Taylor

I did respond to him, and pointed out just a few flaws, and then wished him luck on selling his whistle with that attitude. EBay said I had to buy the whistle first and then they could sanction him. Oh well, makes for a good laugh.

Wow. What a jerk!

Sounds like the guy who knew where the PRR 0-6-0 was submerged. Literacy isn't his strong point.

Like Bugs Bunny used to say, "What a maroon..."
I get that people selling items can get tired of self-described 'experts' telling them stuff about their item that isn't true (I have had this happen before and I just ignore them), but this guy probably lives in his parent's basement, knows every Star Trek episode by the stardate at the beginning, and has never kissed a girl in his life.
Just forget him, know you're the better person, and move on.

Hi All

Here is a photo that is on Big Boy # 4012 at the old Steamtown , note handle .Pat

Maybe we should all start writing him and asking questions.

Actually, I just did. :-)

Seriously, the seller's M.O. is interesting, he replies in all caps, and then comes back as "reasonable."

Any legitimate seller should be able to back up their claims as to the provenance of an item, and they should expect and be prepared to answer such questions. If they act like this, walk away.

Me too! This could get fun if he is truly that much of a pecker.

Sorry, beacon joe, that you had to absorb all that bile ... If you need some therapy, drop by and we'll give you a steam massage ...

=o)

Ask a question, get banned. What?

Real command of grammer this one. Anyway "A UP Museum", is there more than one? It would be interesting to find the "UP official who authenticated the whistle. One last thought, change the lever for ease of shipping, then why not include the original lever. Ohhhps I just had an epithany, there wasn't an original lever.